Shipping-case.



G. W. STITZER.

SHIPPING CASE. APPLICATION FILED 111L115, 1911.

1,082,567, Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

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G. W. STITZER.

SHIPPING CASE.

AIPLIOATION FILED JULY 5 1911.

1,082,567. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

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GEORGE V]. STITZER, OF MAHANOY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHIPPING-CASE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. STITZER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mahanoy City, in the county of Schuylkill and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvemnts in Shipping-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates and more particularly toknock-down 0r collapsible crates or boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a packing or shipping casewherein all the parts are separable one from the other and are held inoperative position for receiving goods or the material to be packed andwhich may be knocked down and secured in compact form for returnshipment or for storage.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specificdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the box. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the side memberslooking from the inside. Fig. 3 is a similar view of one of the endmembers. Fig. l is a side elevation showing the parts packed togetherfor return shipment. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of one of the side members onan enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken through the bottom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the sidemembers of the box, 3 and 4- the end members, 5 the bottom member and 6the top member. Each of these parts is constructed preferably of aplurality of boards 7 reinforced upon their ends by cleats 8 and upontheir sides by cleats 9 which are mitered at the corners, as shown at10, and secured to each board of the part in any suitable manner, as bynails, screws or otherwise.

The bottom 5 has secured, adjacent its sides, suitable channel members11 which are screwed thereto and the side members have embedded in theirlower edge the channel engaging members 12 adapted to be received in thechannel member, as shown in Fig. 5. These side members are also pro-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 5, 1911.

Patented Dec. 39, 1913.

Serial No. 838,915.

vided with channel members 13 adjacent their ends adapted to receivechannel engagmg members 14 embedded in the ends of the boards 7 whichform the end members 8 and 41. The bottom member 5 is provided with aplurality of holes 15, one of which is arranged in its center. The topmember is similarly provided with holes and these holes in the top andbottom members extend through the reinforcing members 9 upon the sidemembers through the boards of the bottom member and through thereinforcing member 9 carried by the bottom member. Suitable bolts 16 and17 are passed through the apertures, the latter bolt extending entirelyacross the side member and passing through the plate 18 which isrecessed or countersunk into the reinforcing member 9 of the top.Similar plates 19 are provided for the bottom member which act aswashers for the bolts 17 and which also are utilized, as will behereinafter described, to hold the parts together in compact form forreturn shipment.

In setting up the box the side members have their channel engagingmembers 1:2 slid into the channel members 11 until the ends of the sidemembers are flush with the end edges of the bottom member. The endmembers 8 and 1 then have their channel engaging members 14 engaged withthe channel members 13 of the side members and are forced downwardlyuntil they rest upon the bottom. The goods to be packed or shipped arethen placed in the box, the lid or top member placed thereon and thebolts 17, which have been previously inserted through the aperture 15 inthe bottom and side members, are passed through the top member and itsreinforcing strip 9 and also the plate 18, the nuts 20 being threadedthereon to hold the top in position. As the bolt apertures in which thebolts 15 are shown are necessary the bolts 16 are also passed in theseapertures to make the connection more secure.

When the parts are assembled for return shipment one of the side membersis preferably placed upon the bottom. The end member is then placedbetween the channel members thereof, the top member then seated upon theend member, the bottom placed upon the top with its channel memberabove,

the end member then placed between the channel member and top of thebottom and the opposite side is then placed upon the end member with thechannel members thereon depending and extending toward the channelmembers of the bottom member. The thickness is equal to the length ofthe plates 18 and 19 and the holes in the end thereof are adapted toregister with the holes through which the bolts 16 are passed when thecrate is set up. The bolts 16 are then passed through the plates andthrough the holes in'the reinforcing members 9 of the side members 1 and2. It will therefore be seen that the only operation necessary when thecrate is desired to be set up is to remove the bolts, slide the side andend members into position and place the bolts 17 through the bottommembers and top upon the outside of the side members. It will also benoted that these bolts lie within the space formed between the outersurface of the reinforcing members and the boards and that they arethereby protected from engagement with any exterior object. The bolts 16may be dispensed with as the bolts 17 will effectively hold the parts inposition and not only tend to hold the top in position but also preventthe bottom from sliding upon the sides, or Vice versa.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is A packingcrate comprising a bottom member, side members, end members and a topmember, each member constructed of a plurality of boards, reinforcingmembers to connect the boards together, channel members carried by thebottom and side members, channel engaging members carried by the sidemembers and the end members, bolts passing through the top and bottommembers and certain of the reinforcing members upon the side members,said means adapted to secure the side members against disconnection fromthe bottom member and to hold the top upon the side and end members, andwasher plates having means to receive said securing means when the partsare piled one upon top of the other in collapsed form.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. STITZER.

Witnesses:

F. EDMoNsToN, J12, L. E. WVALTERs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

